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penkA little babbling about me for a bit.
I've been doing a lot of walking lately. I mean, like a lot. It's become my primary source of exercise - and if I go a day without putting a mile or two under my boots, I start to get twitchy.
Yesterday I pretty much spent the entire day either inside, driving, or eating. Not exactly conducive to keeping in shape.
So today I resolved to get some good walk time in. Since I was planning on going into town for Knitcetera, it seemed logical to chart things out so I could get in some hiking. The weather actually behaved, and I had a whole afternoon around town without any downpours. Yay!
I ended up parking at Alewife station and walking along the bike path into Davis Square, where I worked on my laptop at the ABP there for a few hours. After that, I walked up to Kidder Ave and spent a few hours socializing, then walked all the way back to Alewife. Total distance was about 3 miles - not including random jaunts around town (see my Gmaps Pedometer chart of the route.) Since it was a crafty night, I had my chainmail bag with me, plus my laptop, music, and water. All in all, about 20-22lbs of extra weight.
Walking has become somewhat meditative for me. Whether it's just walking in town or hiking out on a geocache, I find the exercise refreshing and calming. Being out in the woods is a great feeling, and even hiking in town has it's place, though they're approached differently. (In a woods hike or climb, I don't wear headphones).
Until bike season really gets (cough) rolling, and volleyball starts up, this is my exercise. Since the beginning of last summer, I've lost something like 25lbs, and I'd like to lose another 10. But I'm not 'dieting' or 'exercising to lose weight' or whatever - I'm doing it because it's making me feel good. When I started volleyball, I didn't make the decision "I'm doing this to lose weight!" - I did it because it felt right. The weight thing was an added benefit that I'm certainly enjoying.
It's turned now into a basic lifestyle shift. I want to remain active. I feel it's good for my mind and good for my body - so I'll continue doing it. I do worry about the slippery slope of challenging myself though. Recently I've found that a 'normal hike' up and down hills around Callahan Park near Zach's school (about a 2 mile round trip) wasn't strenuous enough, so I've taken to loading down my pack with hand weights. If I'm not carrying 20lbs of cargo along, it feels... unfulfilling. I wonder when I'll up the weights...
In the back of my mind, I think of the hiking and extra weight as partial training. I'd like to do some overnight backpacking this summer, which will require me to a) be in shape, and b) be comfortable carrying things in a backpack. I'm apparently on the right track.
I've been doing a lot of walking lately. I mean, like a lot. It's become my primary source of exercise - and if I go a day without putting a mile or two under my boots, I start to get twitchy.
Yesterday I pretty much spent the entire day either inside, driving, or eating. Not exactly conducive to keeping in shape.
So today I resolved to get some good walk time in. Since I was planning on going into town for Knitcetera, it seemed logical to chart things out so I could get in some hiking. The weather actually behaved, and I had a whole afternoon around town without any downpours. Yay!
I ended up parking at Alewife station and walking along the bike path into Davis Square, where I worked on my laptop at the ABP there for a few hours. After that, I walked up to Kidder Ave and spent a few hours socializing, then walked all the way back to Alewife. Total distance was about 3 miles - not including random jaunts around town (see my Gmaps Pedometer chart of the route.) Since it was a crafty night, I had my chainmail bag with me, plus my laptop, music, and water. All in all, about 20-22lbs of extra weight.
Walking has become somewhat meditative for me. Whether it's just walking in town or hiking out on a geocache, I find the exercise refreshing and calming. Being out in the woods is a great feeling, and even hiking in town has it's place, though they're approached differently. (In a woods hike or climb, I don't wear headphones).
Until bike season really gets (cough) rolling, and volleyball starts up, this is my exercise. Since the beginning of last summer, I've lost something like 25lbs, and I'd like to lose another 10. But I'm not 'dieting' or 'exercising to lose weight' or whatever - I'm doing it because it's making me feel good. When I started volleyball, I didn't make the decision "I'm doing this to lose weight!" - I did it because it felt right. The weight thing was an added benefit that I'm certainly enjoying.
It's turned now into a basic lifestyle shift. I want to remain active. I feel it's good for my mind and good for my body - so I'll continue doing it. I do worry about the slippery slope of challenging myself though. Recently I've found that a 'normal hike' up and down hills around Callahan Park near Zach's school (about a 2 mile round trip) wasn't strenuous enough, so I've taken to loading down my pack with hand weights. If I'm not carrying 20lbs of cargo along, it feels... unfulfilling. I wonder when I'll up the weights...
In the back of my mind, I think of the hiking and extra weight as partial training. I'd like to do some overnight backpacking this summer, which will require me to a) be in shape, and b) be comfortable carrying things in a backpack. I'm apparently on the right track.
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no subject
Date: 2007-04-17 04:28 pm (UTC)As I lose weight, and my muscle tone gets better (I have mad r0xing sculpted shins n thighs), it takes more effort to get that level.
We'll see if I keep the weight loss + weight carrying equal for long :)
no subject
Date: 2007-04-18 02:46 am (UTC)